Barbara Walters Includes Honey Boo Boo on “Most Fascinating” List

Adam Levine really hates Honey Boo Boo and her and her family’s reality show, saying it’s the closest thing to confirmation that Western civilization is a goner, in more or less words. Barbara Walters, on the other hand, thinks it’s worthy of a mention on the “Most Fascinating” list.

Each year in December, Walters premieres a TV special with who’s who in a wide array of fields, from television, music and film, to politics and business.

This year, NewsDay reports, she’s decided to include Honey Boo Boo on the list as well.

The 6-year-old reality star got her start on TLC’s “Toddlers & Tiaras” and as a kiddie beauty queen, but she and her family have now their own show on the same network, the aptly titled “Here Comes Honey Boo Boo.”

Walters believes that the show is the only explanation for Honey Boo Boo’s inclusion on the list, even if said choice could – and already has – upset many.

“A lot of people will say, ‘For heaven's sake, this is ridiculous, this is a child at 5 or 6 years old entering beauty contests’,” Walters says.

Saying that would mean missing the entire point of the show, the veteran talk show host stresses.

“But the relationship between Alana and her mother – that's the story, the two of them. It's very touching,” she explains.

“Honey Boo Boo is not an obnoxious little girl. She's sweet and loving with her mother and loving with her sisters [Jessica, Lauryn and Anna]. And now Anna has a new baby, and the baby has [three] thumbs – but so what? It'll make you smile,” Walters adds.

That Honey Boo Boo & Co. are a hit with audiences is undeniable but many of those people only watch so they can make fun afterwards, because whatever value Walters sees to the show isn’t really there. Or so are people saying online as we speak.

The decision to have Honey Boo Boo on the “Most Fascinating” list has already generated quite a heated debate on social media and in the blogosphere.

Just in case you’re not acquainted with the TLC reality show that made this little girl such a huge star, below is a video to show you what you’ve been missing. After you’ve seen it, drop us a line in the comments section below to let us know if you agree with Barbara or not.